pharmaceris Pureretinol 0.3

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Hydrogenated Polydecene
3. Squalane
4. Glycerin
5. Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
6. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
7. Cetearyl Glucoside
8. Cetearyl Alcohol
9. 1,2-Hexanediol
10. Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
11. Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
12. Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
13. Retinol
14. Sodium Polyacrylate
15. Hydroxyacetophenone
16. Pentylene Glycol
17. Glyceryl Behenate
18. Paraffin
19. Xanthan Gum
20. Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
21. C10-18 Triglycerides
22. Tocopheryl Acetate
23. Bha
24. Stearic Acid
25. Cera Alba
26. Ceramide Ng
27. Ethylhexylglycerin
28. Clintonia Borealis Root Extract
29. BHT
30. Phenoxyethanol
31. Parfum

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains fragranceContains mineral oilContains animal-derivedContains essential oilsContains EU-26 allergens

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Hydrogenated PolydeceneSqualanePentaerythrityl TetraisostearateCetearyl Alcohol

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN CONDITIONING

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Cetearyl Glucoside

Other ingredients

1,2-HexanediolHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl EstersGossypium Herbaceum Seed OilPotassium Cetyl PhosphateRetinolSodium PolyacrylateHydroxyacetophenonePentylene GlycolGlyceryl BehenateParaffinXanthan GumPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearateC10-18 TriglyceridesTocopheryl AcetateBhaStearic AcidCera AlbaCeramide NgEthylhexylglycerinClintonia Borealis Root ExtractBHTPhenoxyethanolParfum

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Hydrogenated polydecene, light mineral oil alternative, low comedogenic; silky, non-greasy.

Squalane

Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate

Mild emulsifier and emollient with cleansing function; suitable for baby and sensitive skin, low irritancy.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Shea butter for occlusive moisturizing; high melt point, rich texture, caution for oily skin.

Cetearyl Glucoside

Gentle non-ionic sugar-based emulsifier for low-irritation formulas; often co-blended

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters

Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, synthetic oil for moisturizing/film/hair, low irritation, low comedogenicity

Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil

Plant seed oil for skin conditioning; rich in fatty acids, prone to oxidation, requires antioxidants.

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Cetyl phosphate potassium, O/W emulsifier; pH-sensitive, often requires buffering.

Retinol

Highly active and unstable, needs robust antioxidant encapsulation; 0.1-1.0%, pregnancy contraindicated

Sodium Polyacrylate

Superabsorbent resin, <1%; gels with electrolytes, ionic strength control required.

Hydroxyacetophenone

Hydroxyacetophenone as antioxidant; often boosts Vitamin C, works in acidic pH.

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Glyceryl Behenate

Emulsifier and thickener with emollient properties; high melting point, low comedogenicity.

Paraffin

Paraffin wax for occlusion/viscosity control; inert/safe, may affect breathability

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Non-ionic emulsifier at 1–3%; mild, easily combined with other surfactants.

C10-18 Triglycerides

Mixture of C10-18 triglycerides for emolliency, conditioning, and solvency; low comedogenic risk but occlusive.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Bha

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA); oil-phase antioxidant. Use <0.05%. Controversial at high levels.

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Cera Alba

Animal-derived wax; emulsifier and occlusive; adds texture and emollience

Ceramide Ng

Skin lipid repair ingredient to restore barrier; non-irritating, suitable for sensitive and compromised skin

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Clintonia Borealis Root Extract

Not decoded yet

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.

Related products in this category

• skinceuticals SkinCeuticals Aox+Eye Gel
• avene Avene Xeracalm Balm
• superdrug-deep-action Superdrug Deep Action Bha, Aha, Pha & Lactic Acid Skin Brightening Solution
• superdrug-deep-action-extreme Superdrug Deep Action Extreme Pha Shine Control Solution
• alverde alverde Körperbutter Macadamianuss Karitébutter
• caudalie Caudalie Divine Oil